Chapter 20: Chapter 20

When I walk out of room the next morning father already sits at the table. I kiss his cheek and take a seat. He does this when he wants to talk before going to work.

“Everyone has been assigned to work a half day today as there will be a celebration for a new announcement of marriage. The couple wishes to celebrate their courting and get the villages approval.” He informs me wasting no time.

“Oh wonderful. Who will it be to marry soon” I ask him curiously?

“One of the daughters of a paddy field worker. Her name escapes me at the moment. I wanted to tell you just in case you had already made plans with Draco” he says.

“Oh well I don’t know what he has planned today but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind attending the celebration with me. Is it alright that I bring him” I ask.

“That is fine. He must see how we do things here for our celebrations at some point too.” He offers. “Let us begin our walk dear we are off to a late start today.

As we hurry to the fields. I hope in my mind that Draco will want to go to the celebration. We do not offer as much as his village but each celebration here is special in its own way.

~later that day~

As I get ready for the celebration I am full excitement. I love to see the happiness of the couples as they announce their love. They always have this glow that everyone can see. When they think no one is looking they share glances that I am sure mean more than words. Their happiness becomes yours and you cannot help but share their joy.

I decide to wear the pink dress I had bought to show Draco. I know that many in the village will be clothed in a normal days wear, and I would not want Draco to feel out of place. When I am ready to go I head to the table to wait. At my arrival, my father is slipping his feet into his geta. Instead of the pants I normally see him wear to work in the fields he has put on one of the few robes he has. It is the same green of a dress he bought that reminds him of my mother’s favorite color.

“Io we must head to the celebration. I’m sure Draco will hear the noise and meet us there” he insists.

“I’m sure if we wait a moment he will be here. I think it would be better if we walked there together” I say. Before he can reply there is a knock at the door. My father opens the door and there he stands.

“Hello Homura. Hello my Io.” He greets.

“Oh Draco, you are just in time. There is a celebration today. Someone in the village has an announcement of courting to give. Would you mind changing any plans you had set today to go with us? I ask.

“A celebration sounds wonderful. I will give you my gift later then. Shall we??” He asks holding out his harm.

My father holds out his arm as well and loop through them both. I feel as if all is right in the world by being escorted by the two most important people I. My life. As we round the hut I am accosted by the rich aroma of meat cooking. It smells aromatic just like the food I had the first day of Hanami. I cannot wait to eat.

When we see the crowd everyone turns to look at us. The air pauses and as I look behind me I wonder what they are looking at. My father pays my arm and lets me go to stand with the crowd. As I look to Draco for an answer I see his skin redden.

“As todays gift, I planned a picnic to share with your village” he says. I know I must look confused because he stares at me for a moment before he continues. “For today’s celebration we are the couple who is announcing a courting of marriage. I wanted to show everyone what you mean to me.”

After a brief moment of hesitation, I look at the crowd and see smiles on everyone’s face. I jump into his arms and hug him. Cheers go around the village and once again the celebration starts.

“This is a wonderful surprise. How did you get the whole village to go along?” I ask in wonder.

“Well, I actually got some help from your father with that. I talked to a few of the shops in the village and ordered food to be delivered here too. I wanted you to enjoy your time today.” He states as we make our way to get food.

As I look at the arrangement of food, I see many things that I tried at Hanami and many that I did not. I also see an assortment of baked items that I have always smelled when I shopped with father in the village. Draco piles a wooden plank high with two of everything. Looking around I see the many excited faces of my villagers doing the same.

Per tradition we are to sit at the high table by ourselves while others fill in the remaining seats of tables so that everyone can get a look at the future wedding couple. As we began to eat I cannot help but lol at Draco and smile. I am thoroughly impressed by his efforts.

“Is there something you’d like to say?” He asks when he catches me staring. As I ponder the question while stating some more he gives me a huge smile. “I am happy that this pleases you Io. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at a loss for words.” He says.

I do not think I have been at a loss for words. However, there is something bothering me, and I must voice my concern. “Why have you done this Draco? Do you not enjoy our time alone?” I ask.

He places down his eating utensil and turns toward me. “I love spending time alone you. I cherish it. I planned this as a way to show you that I do not wish to hide us from the world. As a way to show you that even with my station I can chose you. That I do choose you” He swears. “I want you Io. Even with our differences I need you to know that I want to share what we have. Just because we are from different villages that we can exist together. That we are together.” He declares.

“Oh Draco. I believe that. I truly do.” I say. Then I place a kiss of his lips. After the kiss I lean my forehead on his. The crowd disappears and I live in the peace that I find only with him. I could cherish this for a lifetime I think.

That evening we dance with my people. We laugh and share in there joy. We receive their blessing of a fruitful life. When the celebration ends we leave it together, just as we are meant to be.

When we reach my door later that evening Draco embraces me. I hug him tight and for once I feel as if I never want to let go. He leans back from the embrace and on his face I see an expression I do not know.

“Io, do your ember the agreement we had…about if I were to not show up for a day to listen to my explanation” he asks. I nod my head wondering where he is going with this.

“Well, I have an engagement to attend with my parents again. So, I won’t see you in two days’ time like we always do” he says. I take a step back and look at him. “We will see each other again it will just be in three days’ time instead of two” he rushes to say. I find myself taking a breath of relief. For a moment I thought he was dismissing our engagement even though we just had a celebration to show everyone.

“I understand. You have no control over it. I don’t like it, but I can wait just one more day to see you this time” I say with more strength than I feel.

“I’m happy that you can be okay with it. I will be back. Good night my Io” he says places a kiss on my forehead.

“Good night my Draco” I wish.

I walk to my door and when I look back my gaze meets his across the distance. I wave as I see him turn for his village.

As I get ready for bed my heart is heavy. Three days seems like so long now. I will have to find ways to pass the time swiftly.